In case you are using the vCSA and need to upload sysprep files thisshould get you going.
May 15, 2014 - Sysprep is a free tool that comes with windows. The boot CD/DVD of the operating system like Windows XP under the Support Tools folder. ImageX works with Windows image (.wim) files to copy directly to a destination. Sysprep a Windows XP SP3 machine. Well, in order for the sysprep to successfully copy over the administrator profile to the default profile for each user you have to add an extra line to the sysprep.inf file or else it won’t work in Service Pack 3 like it did in Service Pack 2.
First off download the relevant sysprep files that you may need by usingthe links below.
Extract the files using the command below for Windows 2003 x64. This iswhat I am using in this example.
Now connect to your vCSA using your browser of choice.https://{vcsahostname/ip}:5480
Once logged in on the main page you will see under utilities a button toupload Sysprep files. Click upload.
Now select the Windows sysprep version you would like to upload.
Select choose file.
Now browse to the location of the sysprep.exe file that you extractedfrom the downloaded file from above.
Click close.
All done. As you can see it is pretty easy. Easier than using a WindowsvCenter Server IMHO. But YMMV. :)
Enjoy!
You can install the Microsoft Sysprep tool from a CD.
The ALLUSERSPROFILE location is usually Documents and SettingsAll Users. This is also the location of the vpxd.cfg file. On Windows 2008, the file location is C:ProgramDataVMwareVMware VirtualCentersysprep.
For the VMware vCenter Server Appliance, extract the contents of the DEPLOY.CAB file for the Sysprep Tool version you downloaded to /etc/vmware-vpx/sysprep. For example, /etc/vmware-vpx/sysprep/2k, /etc/vmware-vpx/sysprep/xp. The vpx daemon process must have read permission on the files.
2 | Locate the DEPLOY.CAB file in the SupportTools directory on the CD . |
Open and expand the DEPLOY.CAB file. | |
4 | Extract the files to the directory appropriate to your Sysprep guest operating system. The following Sysprep support directories were created during the vCenter Server installation: |
Select the subdirectory that corresponds to your operating system. | |
6 | Click OK to expand the files. The contents of the .cab file vary, depending on the operating system. |
Repeat this procedure to extract Sysprep files for each of the Windows guest operating systems that you plan to customize using vCenter Server. |
What to do next
You are now ready to customize a new virtual machine with a supported Windows guest operating system when you clone an existing virtual machine.